Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:32 AM CDT
They've got you covered: All-area team represents local schools well
By RICK DAWSON, Staff Writer
rdawson@jg-tc.com
The 2008-09 Journal Gazette/Times-Courier All-Area Boys’ Basketball Team is one of the most diverse in recent years, representing 11 different schools. Mainly a senior-dominated squad – three juniors are on the list – it’s one that’s also filled with big men. Eight of the top 12 players are 6-foot-3 or taller.
Four of the players who made the list – Mattoon’s Colton Pettyjohn, Charleston’s Jamel Johnson, Sullivan’s Chris Marrs and Casey-Westfield’s Mitch Snyder -- are repeat selections.
CODY BOARMAN
Neoga: 6-4 junior forward
Profile: The Indians’ second-leading scorer (12.1 points per game) and leader in 3-pointers (45) and 3-point percentage (35.2), Boarman was also solid in a number of other areas: rebounds (77), assists (72) and steals (29). Often assigned to guard top scoring threats, he had solid defensive efforts against the likes of Effing-ham St. Anthony’s John Steppe (held to five points), Stew-Stras’s Jaden Widdersheim and Marshall’s Lucas Eitel.
Coach Jason Hanson: “He’s our best shooter. Whenever we needed a 3 or a big basket we’d run a set for him. He did a nice job of getting shots for us. He was also our best perimeter defender. He usually guarded the other team’s best player most nights and did a terrific job on whoever he was guarding. He guarded several players who had good years.”
KENNETH EAST
Arcola: 5-11 senior guard
Profile: Followed a solid junior year by leading the Purple Riders in scoring (11.5 points per game), 3-point goals (62) and 3-point percentage (41.6). Also averaged 3.7 rebounds, three assists and had 40 steals. Versatile enough to play both guard positions, he scored 725 points the past two seasons.
Coach Chad Graves: “His ability to shoot the ball was his strength. He made us a much better team when he was shooting the ball well. That way, opponents couldn’t just guard our post players. He is probably one of the better shooters in our area once he got his feet set. His mechanics were so good and it was something he worked on to get, too.
“He took care of the basketball for us. I know his numbers were down a little from last year, but I think that had to do with the team improving. He was a good team player.”
JARED HIGGINBOTHAM
Martinsville: 6-2 junior guard/forward
Profile: Did a little bit of everything for the Bluestreaks, averaging 18 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Made it to the foul line often, hitting 97-of-147 free-throw attempts. Was a first-team all-Little Okaw Valley selection.
Coach Kyle Shelton: “Jared Higginbotham is a rare commodity. Jared can dribble, score, pass and shoot from 15 foot in. He really plays all positions on a basketball court. Statistically, he is one of the very best that I have ever coached. Jared managed to play a little over half the season on basically one leg.
“As a coach it makes you wonder about two things. No. 1: How did he do it? And No. 2: What would he have been capable of if he were fully healthy? Now, you can throw the numbers out of the window because he is twice the person as he is a basketball player/athlete. He is the face of Martinsville basketball and his attitude and leadership will most certainly have to guide us next season. We are only as good as his leader-ship.”
JEREMY JANSEN
Cumberland: 6-5 senior forward
Profile: A smooth player outside who was often a force inside, Jansen averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 re-bounds before his season was cut short by an injury. He also had a team-leading 31 blocks while pacing the Pirates in 3-point field-goal percentage (15-of-39, 38.5 percent). Was chosen to the Little Illini’s all-conference first team.
Coach Justin Roedl: “Jeremy was a great overall player and a team leader for us this year. Jeremy was one of our hardest workers and led both vocally and by example on and off the floor. He had an inside-outside game which was tough to defend. He could post you up and step out and knock down the 3. He was our best post defender and led the team in points and rebounds averaging a double-double this year. Unfortunately we lost Jeremy to a knee injury late in the season which cut a very successful season short. Jeremy was a pleasure to coach and will be greatly missed.”
JAMEL JOHNSON
Charleston: 6-6 senior forward
Profile: A two-time all-area selection, Johnson ranks ninth all-time in scoring (1,019 points) for the Trojans. Averaged 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 48 percent from the field as a senior. Had five double-doubles. His performance in the final meeting with Effingham (19 points, 10 rebounds) was crucial in bringing his team a regional championship.
Coach Trevor Doughty: “I think the big thing is he had the ability to dominate some games, or play a big role in those games. When he did that, very often we were successful. Several times he was the leading scorer as well as rebounder. That’s the big thing, how well he rebounded throughout his career. He was the leading rebounder last year, the leading rebounder this year.
“He was a major factor and he has been a major factor for us, really, through the last three years, and any success that we had. The other thing about him that I’m really impressed is how he handles himself on the floor and off the floor too. He is very mild-mannered, low-key about everything. He doesn’t draw a lot of attention to himself. He just goes out there and does the things he’s supposed to do. He doesn’t cause trouble. He’s not seeking attention in inappropriate ways. He’s had attention directed towards him. He could easily let that go to his head, but he has not.”
CHRIS MARRS
Sullivan: 6-6 senior forward
Profile: Led Sullivan in scoring (16.4 points per game), rebounding (7 rpg) and field-goal percentage (61 percent). An Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state fourth team selection in Class 2A, Marrs is headed to Illinois College in Jacksonville to play basketball next season. Was Sullivan’s MVP for two years and led the team in rebounding and scoring both years as well.
Coach Scott Bales: “His accomplishments are going to be hard to replace for next year. Along with all of the stats, he is really a tremendous young man. He is our campus leader for Fellowship of Christian Ath-letes, is active in his church youth group, is a member of National Honor Society and student council. This young man is a busy person.
“I am really proud of him for persevering through his knee injury when he was a freshman, and then his rehabilitation of the knee following knee surgery. He fought through knee pain the last two years to become an all-conference first teamer in one of the toughest 2A conferences in the state. . .Our team will definitely miss his leadership, as well as his skills, next year. I think his best basketball is still yet to come for Chris.”
PATRICK MILLER
Tri-County: 6-1 senior guard
Profile: Was the Titans’ top scorer (15.6 points per game), grabbed nearly six rebounds per game, hit 80 of his 126 free-throw attempts and shot 35.1 percent from the 3-point arc. The Little Okaw Valley conference recognized him as a second-team selection.
Coach Adam Clapp: “Patrick Miller is an incredible athlete. He is the type of player that has a nose for the basketball and good things always happened when he had the ball in his hands. From day one until the end of the season, Patrick improved every day. He consciously worked on his ballhandling, defense and shoot-ing. He became very good finishing around the basket. Patrick was our “go-to guy.” When we needed a basket this season, it was a good bet that Patrick was going to catch the ball on the baseline, drive to the basket, elevate and score. With his explosiveness, there were not very many defenders that could stop his drive.
“His jumping ability is phenomenal as well. He is listed at 6-foot, but the way he uses his jumping ability you would think he is 6-5. On numerous occasions, Patrick would grab a rebound head and shoulders above everyone else. Patrick was fun to coach because of his competitive nature and his willingness to learn. He will be truly missed next year.”
COLTON PETTYJOHN
Mattoon: 6-4 senior center
Profile: A three-year starter and all-Big 12 first teamer as a senior, he led the Green Wave in scoring (14 points per game), rebounding (5.9 rpg), steals (32), blocks (27), field-goal percentage (58.9) and free throws made (67). Visited Lincoln Land on Wednesday and has drawn interest from Lake Land and MacMurray as well. Had some of his best games against talented opponents, including Mount Vernon (25 points), Bloomington (25) and Decatur MacArthur (22).
Coach Brooks Inman: “He’s a big-time competitor. Even in practice he hated to lose. He’s just a hard worker. You always want kids like that in your program. He’s done that for four years here, something that attests to his character as well. He’s just been a tremendous asset to our program.
“He’s a really good inside player. He has great feet and good hands and he never gives up on a ball. . .If there’s a missed shot, there’s a chance Petty’s going to end up with the rebound. All in all, he’s a good bas-ketball player and an even better person.”
MITCH SNYDER
Casey-Westfield: 6-3 senior forward
Profile: Although noted for his football success – he was an Illinois High School Football Coaches Associa-tion all-stater at quarterback – he has been one of the area’s most consistent basketball players, too, scoring over 1,000 points for his career. A two-year captain, he led the JG/T-C area in scoring (20 points per game), averaged 4.5 rebounds, dished out 72 assists and had 49 steals and 49 3-pointers. Made the Little Illini’s all-conference first team.
Coach Chris Seaton: “Mitch was able to back up a very successful season in football with hopefully an equally successful season in basketball. Finishing the season as the area's leader in scoring, he showed he was a very good offensive player. He could score in a number of different ways. He also proved he could draw defenses to him. He led us in assists so he was willing to share the ball. He wanted the ball in his hands. He was willing to take the shot in crucial situations during the game.”
JOSH TABBERT
Stewardson-Strasburg: 6-5 senior forward
Profile: Vastly improved from his junior year, Tabbert averaged 14.8 points per game and had his most impressive outing against small-school power Altamont, scoring 30 points. Also led his team in field-goal percentage (57.8), rebounds (6.9 rpg) and blocks (26) while improving as a perimeter defender. A second-team all-National Trail selection.
Coach Mike Walker: “It’s a kid that’s had a great desire. Because of that desire, he was willing to work extremely hard. He just showed such improvement from his freshman year. I remember people making comments about whether he’d ever get coordinated enough to contribute. Just to see him take that challenge, the improvement level from one year to the next, is just unbelievable. I think some of his best years are ahead of him. I just hope we can get him an opportunity somewhere.
“He’s long. He’s got a basketball body. His wing span is longer than he is tall. He’s 6-5, 6-6, and 230 (pounds). I think his dad grew an inch or two further after high school so that’s something that could happen too. He ran the floor extremely well. He put a lot of pressure on other teams’ defenses. And he’s our leading rebounder. We had some pretty good sized guys, but I think he averaged about seven rebounds per game. He had the real ability to score.”
TIM WILSON
Arthur: 6-3 senior guard
Profile: An honorable mention IBCA all-state selection, Wilson was the only unanimous choice on the all-Little Okaw Valley Conference team. Averaged 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, nailed 46 3-pointers and dished out 65 assists. Had a season-high 34 points vs. Stew-Stras. Committed to play baseball at Kaskaskia next season.
Coach Dale Schuring: “Tim has always been a great shooter, but he worked very hard over the years to develop into a complete player. He is an offensive player that can score in a variety of ways. He is also an underrated defender and a very good rebounder.”
Contact Rick Dawson at rdawson@jg-tc.com or 238-6855.
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